𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 | s. lopez + b. pierce

The Substitute

"Alright, guys, um...time to start thinking about song selections."

Jayden frowned, exchanging a look with Quinn as Mr. Schue turned around and stared at them blankly.

"Is he on drugs?" the sophomore asked in a whisper.

"Maybe drunk?" Quinn shrugged.

"Lookin' good, Puckerman," Santana said, smirking at the mohawk boy as Jayden pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Someone's been eating their wheaties."

"These guns are fully loaded," Puck smirked as he flexed his muscles.

"Mr. Schue?" Rachel spoke up. "I, for one, think we should use our set-list for sectionals to start exploring the oeuvre of one Bernadette Peters."

"Guppy's named after Bernadette Peters," Brittany said.

"Mr. Schuester, you look a little green," Mercedes frowned.

"Um...I think I'm gonna go see the nurse," Mr. Schue said, confusion on his face as he stared at the group of teens. "But first I feel like I should get you guys a sitter."

As the teacher left the room, Rachel stood up. Jayden furrowed her brows, frowning when her sister erased what Mr. Schue had written on the board and replaced it with ME in big, bold letters.

"Class," the diva said as she turned around. "In Mr. Schuester's absence, I'd like to go around and ask everyone what solos they'd like to hear me perform at sectionals."

"Alright, you know what? Let me at her!" Santana yelled as she stood up, several Glee Clubbers quickly grabbing her to hold her back. "¡Tú eres loca!"

Rachel started screaming as the room turned to chaos. Jayden covered her ears with her hands, tears pricking in her eyes from the sudden loudness. Quinn put a comforting arm around her, gently rubbing her back to soothe her as she whispered comforting words.

****

Jayden walked into the choir room, yelping in surprise as she slipped and fell, her hip numbing with pain. She clenched her jaw, glaring up at Puck as he held a hand out to help her up.

"Sorry, smalls," he said as her small hand took his, allowing him to pull her up off the dirty floor.

"What the hell, dude?" Finn scoffed. "Jayden's fragile."

"What are you even doing?" the petite cheerleader asked.

"Kurt got us a substitute, so I'm buttering the floor," Puck shrugged.

"But sectionals is, like, two weeks from now," Finn frowned.

"Hey, Gigantor, Jayden," Artie said as the two looked over at him. "We're all gonna swap names, yo."

"Um, did I hear something about a substitute–" Rachel's sentence trialed off as she slipped on the buttered floor.

"Same thing happened to me a few seconds ago," Jayden chuckled as she helped her sister up. "Are you okay?"

"Well, at least I didn't fall and break my talent," Rachel sighed. "I'm fine."

The two sisters went to sit down. Jayden sat down next to Quinn, not noticing the way Santana's jaw clenched.

A tall blonde woman walked in, sliding on the floor.

"Oh, what the hell?" Artie scoffed, holding a hand up.

"Hola, clase. Nothing says 'bienvenidos' quite like a buttered floor," the woman smirked. "Let's start with some introductions. My name is Holly Holliday. What's yours?" She snapped and pointed at Puck. "Go."